Alabama

Pitcher Phillip Byrd to enter South Alabama baseball record book

Phillip Byrd is scheduled to start on the mound for South Aalbama on Friday, April 27, 2012, against Florida International at Stanky Field. (Press-Register/John David Mercer)

MOBILE, Alabama -- Phillip Byrd has been a consistent performer since joining the South Alabama baseball program in 2009, and his dependability will be rewarded today when he starts a Sun Belt Conference game against Florida International at Eddie Stanky Field.

The senior left-hander from Hurley, Miss., will enter USA's record book with his 87th appearance on the mound, breaking Mike Zimmerman's record established from 1988-1990.

"It never really crossed my mind that it could be possible or happen for me," Byrd said as he approached today's 6:30 p.m. first pitch. "I've been blessed to run out there that many times and still be healthy and contribute that much to a team here at South Alabama."

Byrd has worked from the bullpen and as a starter, compiling a 7-4 career record. He began this season in the bullpen but moved into the starting rotation on March 6 against Southern Miss. The Jaguars have won five of his seven starts.

"Phillip can do both and he's shown that," USA coach Mark Calvi said. "We'd love to have him be a left-handed specialist coming out of the bullpen. And in a perfect world, maybe that would've been the scenario, but because of injuries and things, it didn't work that way.

"We needed one of our best guys throwing six or seven innings a weekend instead of one or two innings per weekend. With Phillip having the most experience, he was that guy, and he's taken on the responsibility and done an admirable job."

Byrd (3-2, 5.29 ERA) has worked 47Ò innings this year and has made it to the fifth inning in all but one of his league starts, a plus considering the Jaguars' pitching problems.

"My goal in every game is a complete game, but it hardly ever works out that way," Byrd said. "You want to throw strikes and keep your pitch count down. If I make it to the sixth or seventh, that's a pretty good start depending on how many runs I give up."

USA (16-25, 10-8) is tied for third place in the league with FIU (24-16, 10-8) and Middle Tennessee entering the weekend series.

"All I've ever asked out of the starting pitchers is that you need to keep your team in position to win the game," Calvi said. "Phillip has been solid. It's great seeing him have some success this year. He doesn't get upset and has the right mentality."